Trailblazing superstar-in-the-making Brantley Gilbert has taken a unique path to stardom, significantly impacting musical trends and, in effect, broadening country’s audience through his compelling blend of rock and urban influences with traditional country themes and musicality. On the touring front, strategic decisions by Gilbert’s team and Gilbert’s own on-stage charisma built a solid foundation poised to explode when the hits arrived. The artist honed his chops in the Georgia clubs in the early 2000s, and by 2010, he was selling out small venues throughout the country.
Gilbert first garnered attention in Nashville as a writer of addictive, attention-grabbing songs, penning the No. 1 hits “My Kinda Party” and “Dirt Road Anthem” for Jason Aldean, as well as his own “Country Must Be Country Wide.” Gilbert’s debut project, the Platinum “Halfway To Heaven” produced the chart-topper “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” and earned Gilbert a spot as direct support on the Toby Keith tour. By 2011, Gilbert earned a slot headlining the second stage on the Country Throwdown tour and signed to Big Machine’s Valory imprint. The artist broadened his base as direct support on fellow rebel Eric Church’s first arena tour, supplemented by headlining large clubs and theaters.
Gilbert scored his first No. 1 Billboard Country Album with Just As I Am in 2013, and began headlining small arenas, as well as a performing on the C2C festival at the O2 Arena in London. Brantley has now racked up five #1 singles, impressive album sales, multiple award show nominations, and was named 2013 ACM Awards New Male Artist of the Year. This year, Gilbert has headlined festivals, arenas and small sheds on the Let It Ride tour, with the second leg launching Sept. 19 in Austin. Next year is poised to be Gilbert’s biggest yet, as the career arc continues to rise, and this in-depth discussion with Team Brantley will examine how he got here, and what comes next.